Police teams from Bihar and Jharkhand launched a joint operation against Naxalites in the border districts of the two states on Saturday. The operation follows a Naxal attack at Chilkhadia village in Giridih district on Saturday morning which killed 17 people, including the younger son of former Jharkhand chief minister Babulal Marandi.

Official sources in the chief minister's office in Patna told rediff.com that a joint operation against Naxalites has been launched.

"Security forces of both the states are currently engaged in combing operations against Naxalites in border districts," sources said.

Before leaving for New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images], Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had directed the state Director General of Police A R Sinha to launch a joint operation. Kumar also instructed the state authorities to be alert and keep a constant vigil in districts bordering Jharkhand.

According to official sources, Bihar's border with Jharkhand may also be sealed to carry out the operation.

"Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda has requested Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to launch a joint operation against Naxalites, after they killed 17 people including Marandi's son. Nitish Kumar has agreed to Koda's requset," said the sources.

The need for a joint operation arises as Naxalites often cross the border and seek shelter in the neighbouring state during police operations.

Police officials admit that after their latest attack in Giridih, the Naxalites may have shifted to Bihar's Jamaui district, which borders Jharkhand.

The police suspect that the banned Naxalite outfit Communist Party of India-Maoist was behind Saturday morning's attack, in which armed Naxalites indiscriminately fired at a group of villagers during a cultural programme.

In March this year, Naxalites shot dead a Jharkhand Mukti Morcha member of Parliament in Jharkhand. The police believe that the culprits had fled to neighbouring Bihar after the incident.